Serbs who endured detention in Croat-Bosniak wartime camps in Derventa have begun giving testimony before U.S. investigators, Drago Knežević, President of the Derventa Association of Former Camp Detainees, said during RTRS’s morning programme.
Over the coming days, five investigators will interview eight former detainees at the Basic Court in Derventa with the assistance of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).
Two former detainees are scheduled to testify today. The investigators are believed to be collecting information on individuals now residing in the United States who are suspected of committing crimes in Derventa during 1992 and who have so far avoided prosecution.
This is the first time that U.S. investigators and prosecutors have come to Derventa to gather testimony regarding the suffering of Serbs during the conflict.
Knežević said that the arrival of the U.S. team has given victims renewed hope that the case will finally move in a positive direction.
“The U.S. prosecutors are interested in what happened inside the camps. They selected eight former detainees to testify. As for the suspects, there are indications that some emigrated to the United States and changed their names. They believed that justice would never catch up with them,” Knežević said.
He expressed hope that the investigation would bring meaningful progress.
“The prosecutors will now hear firsthand about the suffering we endured. There are families here whose members were all killed, and no one has ever been held accountable. We have no confidence in the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But now we hope that justice will finally come to light. We believe that because the investigators have come from the United States,” Knežević said.
Source: RTRS
